So, my husband and I are now off birth control :-0)
How many months should we wait before trying to get pregnant?
I heard you should have at least 1 period after stopping because before trying to conceive.

When would be a good time to start taking folic acid?
When would be a good time to start seeing a doctor?
Is there a type of multi-vitamin that I could start taking? Any suggesstions?

Thanks!

Take folic acid NOW. Take pre-natal vitamins!
Go see a doctor ASAP

Isn't it OK to wait until we get a positive on a pregnancy test... before we go to see a doctor?

Okay, let's start from the beginning.

You need to be taking folic acid now, actually you should have been taking it for quite a while now. All women of childbearing years should be taking folic acid so to aid in preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Now, you can wait until you are pregnant to find a doctor, but better yet, start interviewing now so that you can find a doctor you are comfortable with.

When was your last yearly female exam? What kind of doctor was that?

I asked the pharmacist and they said NOT to bother taking folic acid because I was on birth control... so I guess I took his advice...
My last exam was a little over a year ago... it was a gynacologist (if I spelt that right)

Every woman of childbearing years should take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida should you become pregnant and not know it.

These defects occur in the VERY early weeks of pregnancy and are irreversible. Birth control is not 100% effective, abstinence is the only sure way not to get pregnant. So every woman of childbearing years should be on a vitamin that contains folic acid.

I will never have another child, I have 4, 2 of whom were conceived on the pill, yet I continue to take prenatal vitamins.

If you are comfortable with your gynecologist, and it has been over a year since your last exam, I suggest you make an appointment for a pre-pregnancy screening just to make sure you are in the best health possible for pregnancy.

I was comfortable with him.. only we moved about 5 provinces away... and he retired :(
There is a shortage of doctors where we are living now...
I'll make sure to get the folic acid tomorrow!
What about the other vitamins? Can't I just take a multi vitamin?
I was thinkng about asking the pharmacist... only... I don't understand why he would have told me not to bother taking folic acid until I am off the pill... I don't know if he knows what he is talking about...

I don't know if he knows what he is talking about either. Pregnancy is possible while on birth control, and you want to prevent these defects. Pick up a prenatal vitamin, they are the best and contain everything you need.

If your doc retired and/or you moved away, you might want to start interviewing doctors in your area so that you can find one you are comfortable with when the time comes for you to need him/her.

Yeah we thought I was pregnant in a different post... the hcg levels were too low when I had the blood test... (when I was on b/c)
We are going to have to do something... I think I would just go to a walk-in clinic or something... and they would refer me a doctor?
I think that's how it would work here... I'm not sure
So I will be getting the folic acid tomorrow.. and I don't know... I guess ask the pharmacist again.. about what other pills I should be taking as well...
Do you have any suggestions ?

About 3 years ago... I was told that I had a mild case of cervical dysplasia... the gynacologist told me that it was from smoking... and told me that I should quit or the abnormal cells could come back...
He told me that it would possibly go away on it's own... or I could have some laser therapy... I said I wanted the laser therapy...
Do you think that would lower my chances of having a healthy baby?

OK.. so I have the PRENATAL and post partum supplement...
Only when I asked the pharmacist about the foilic acid... she said I didn't need them because these pills that I have now have 1mg... do you think I should go back and get the folic acid??
These pills are huge... It doesn't say if I chew or swallow... I am assuming I am suppose to swallow?

You don't need a separate folic acid vitamin, and multi vitamin. Get "prenatal" vitamin. It contains both in one.

OK that's what I have then... I'm hoping I should be good to go haha
Do you know about chewing or swallowing them?

You swallow them hun. And 4mg of folic acid is what should be taken daily.

I don't know your pharmacist, and I usually trust them, but from what you have been saying, I would find a new pharmacy.

OK so 1mg is in the pills I have... I'll get out there and get jut the folic acid then... and keep you posted haha I'm sure when everything happens.. I'll be back anyway haha

So.. I've been reading about these prenatal pills... sounds a little scary...
It says not to take any other vitamins etc with them...
I'm almost wondering if I should see a doctor to talk about these things... do you really think it's OK to take folic acid along with these pills?

You swallow them hun. And 4mg of folic acid is what should be taken daily.

I don't know your pharmacist, and I usually trust them, but from what you have been saying, I would find a new pharmacy.

I have to agree here.. your Pharmacist does NOT sound trustworthy. Talk to your doctor, hun. :)


so.. I've been reading about these prenatal pills... sounds a little scary...
It says not to take any other vitamins etc with them...
I'm almost wondering if I should see a doctor to talk about these things... do you really think it's OK to take folic acid along with these pills?
Prenatals are not scary, they are very good for your body. Do they contain folic acid? Every brand I've seen contains enough folic that additional is not necessary. (I'm on a generic brand myself)
Vitamins can be toxic if taken in large amounts, so that could be why your prenatals states that. I think you'd be wise to book an appointment with an OB/GYN to discuss your fears. When you go, take every bottle of meds/vitamins you have so he/she can see the exact dosage of each bottle.

Do they contain folic acid? .
It says on the bottle that they contain 1mg... only I have been told by others and you guys on here that I should be having 4mg... there is no way I eat enough folic acid in my daily diet haha

Yeah... first I need to FIND a doctor... I've been going to walk-in clinics for now... there is a shortage of doctors where I am now... I used to have a family doc and a gyn. Back home... he retired and we moved about 5 provinces away from home too lol... so that makes things hard also...

It also states... "do not take with milk or calcium" or whatever... so I'm assuming I can still drink milk haha but can't swallow them with milk?

So... I've been having "weird" cramps this week... got the flu this week and also have a head cold... great!
Don't understand why I would be having these cramps... and IF I WERE pregnant... it would probably be around 1 week pregnant... that's it... so I shouldn't be having symptoms like these...
I don't think the cold or flu has anything to do with it... I just don't understand these cramps!

I probably should have mentioned my last period ON the pill... (have not yet had one being off the pill)
My last period was January 14 - 18... so my last pill would have been a few days BEFORE the 14th...

So... I was wondering if anyone had an idea of when I would be starting my first period OFF because... my last period was Jan.14th-18th... This week I have been having very very sore nipples and also... the past 2 weeks I've been having cramps! This past Friday... I had some light spotting... as in... hardly anything at all there... not enough to go onto my panties or anything... just enough to see a little bit when I wiped... it was sort of a brownish pink colour... and it only happened that night... no more

Your period couyld be off kilter for a month or two after going off the pills. While your body adjusts to lack of hormones.

The average length of time that a period or ovulation is off after discontinuing the pill is about 5 months. Note that I said average. Every woman is different.

I have to admit that I have not read any updates. School has been grueling so far.

Did you get your answers about the folic acid?

So the sore nipples and cramps for 2 weeks, and spotting is normal?

OK about the folic acid... I am still just taking the prenatal pills (which have 1mg of folic acid and a bunch of other stuff) I have FINALLY found a family doctor out here!! And guess what? / he specializes in babies and deliveries etc... isnt that great!?
I meet with him on the 19th... because I need a pap and I will tlak to him about the pills I should be taking as well...

OK... so... I already stated that my last period was January 14th - January 18th... now on my last post.. I had written that I spotted... NOW... today... which is February 8th... I spotted AGAIN... so I actually thought I had started my period this morning... it was about the same as what it would look like when I normally start.. maybe a bit of difference in colour... anyways... I have not spotted at all the rest of today...
I don't really know what's up ?
Any ideas?

Could be your period gearing up. Remind me, if you will, how long you have been off birht control now.

OK so my last period was January 14th... I never take the sugar pills... so my actual birth control pill with hormones would have been the 11th of January I BELIEVE...
So not quite a month yet... I just don't understand why I am spotting like this!

Duh, I knew that, it was in the title of your post. See how studying makes my brain mush. LOL

Now, it could take several months for your period to regulate since you just quit your pills. You may get some spotting for days before you get a period, if you get a period.

You see, while you were on the pill, your body quit making it's own necessary hormones. Now that you are off, it will take some time for your body to being making those hormones again, and it may take some time for them to build up enough to get a full period.

Do you think there a possibility of pregnancy

I would love to tell you that there is a possibility. But, in all honesty, I can't.

There is no way to tell for sure at this point in time.

Well I'll keep you posted anyway... and probably write about what the doc tells me when I go in... Thanks for responding!!

Girl... Keep me posted.

Just remember, my nursing school schedule is HECTIC right now, so I may not be able to respond immediately. Fridays are my only slow day of the week at the moment.

So do you think my chances of being pregnant are slim because of the cramps and spotting?

As I said, I really can't say. Again, I would love to tell you one way or the other, but that is actually impossible.

You may get some here who will tell you they think you are, or they think you aren't, but that is coming from their own personal experience.

While I do have experience (I have 4 children), I am also speaking from education and a job on a labor and delivery floor.

There is just no way to tell until you can take that test whether it be a urine or blood test. And then even, not 100% until baby is seen on ultrasound.

So, you are just in the waiting zone I am afraid.

OK I threw somes dates in some ovulation calendar here... because it also shows when your period is... says that I should be starting on the 11th of this month... which makes sense seeing as my last normal period was on the 14th of January...
Anyway... so I think I may buy a pregnancy test... maybe one with 2... I don't know yet... (first choice) and take one either tonight or tomorrow... and then if my period doesn't come by Monday... take one again that day...
I don't know what I am going to do yet... it's probably just my hormones all messed up from lack of pills haha

Don't take one tonight. They are more accurate if taken in the morning. Also, if you are supposed to start on the 11th, you would be better off waiting until you miss than taking it before you miss.

OK I'm waiting until the 11th to test then... either that morning or the morning of the 12th... (because I could start later on Monday)

Just wanted to add that I spotted again today... (feb.10)

So, my husband and I are now off birth control :-0)
How many months should we wait before trying to get pregnant?
I heard you should have atleast 1 period after stopping b/c before trying to conceive.

When would be a good time to start taking folic acid?
When would be a good time to start seeing a doctor?
Is there a type of multi-vitamin that I could start taking? Any suggesstions?

Thanks!
try now!! I got pregnant on the pill so I say do it and don't stop hehe x x x good luck x

I just wanted to add that I started my period today... and OMG are the cramps EVER horrible! Never have I ever... which is really weird... about 7 or 8 years ago before I ever was on because... I never had cramps... only back pain... then I went on the pill... always cramps but not back pain...
Now for the 1st month being off... the cramps are horrible and I also have back pain... that I can tolerate haha but the cramps are horrible! Lol

Hey there!
I just wanted to add an update...
I saw a doc today... (which is our new family doctor)
I had my pap done... I didn't get my results back yet (obviously) but I asked her.. and she said that everything "down there" looked the way it should... as in everything looked normal.. so now I guess we just wait and see the results from the pap...
OH and she made me up a prescription of folic acid... said I should be taking 5mg... and the prenatls only had 1mg... I guess I need more because I had a cousin (who is no longer with us) that had spinal bifia...
She made the prescription out for 3 months... and told me to take 1 per day... and not to take the prenatals now... (I'm not sure if I understand that) BUT... I went to have blood work done today... so they are going to check all of my vitamin/mineral levels...
So maybe that is why she told me not to take the prenatlas? Because she is going to wait for the results of the blood tests... then maybe she will have a better idea of what I should be taking for a multi-vitamin...

Quick question... do they normally "spray" something when you have a pap? I told her that I thought I might have some kind of a yeast infection or something... but I wasn't sure because I have never had one... so maybe she was testing for infection or something?

So... hopefully you guys still look at this thread... since it's old haha
So anyway...
Wanted to make an update... I've been off the pill for about 2 months now... I've been taking 5mg of folic acid... the doctor prescribed it for me... I guess I need more beacause I had a cousin with spinal bifia...
Anyway... so I've been taking those pills... also they preformed a blood test to see if I was healthy (im assuming checking vitamins etc) and they came back great

I just was concered... now... if my body IS producing eggs, I figure I would have ovulated around the 24th-26th of this month... so as of today... it would be about 8 or 9 days PAST ovulation... I have been peeing a lot more lately and feel the need to drink more water... (so that could be why I am peeing more)... also sore nipples, cramping for almost 2 weeks... and today (again about 8 or 9 dpo) when I went to pee... I noticed a spot....just like a DROP of pink blood......any ideas what that could have been?
I'm really hoping that we are pregnant... I am suppose to start my period this Monday coming (March 10th) I was playing around online... and found out (according to my last period) IF I AM pregnant... I would be 24 days... obviously way too soon to tell...

Quick question... it's probably kind of stupid haha... but I know that your breasts get larger when you're pregnant... just wondering about how large mine will get... I mean... I'm D cup... (a lot of people think DD) anyway... just wondering if you have any ideas on how large mine will get... please say not too much larger haha

OMG!! GUESS WHAT! Haha
My period is due this Monday... March 10th
I just took a First Response Pregnancy test and GOT A ++++
OMG! Haha
So... yeah when would be a good time to take another test?
And when would I go and see my doctor?

OK.. so last night I took another pregnancy test! Another +++ positive!
I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow as soon as they open and make an appointment to see what I need to do next... seeing as I have never been pregnant before... lol

Sometimes I still feel as if my period is coming... not all the time though.. just sometimes... is that normal??

So... I know no one is replying but anyway haha
I got the pregnancy confirmed today by the doc!
April 14th is my first ultra sound :-0)